Hey All,
I've got a bit of a beef and I'm looking for a constructive way to do something about it rather than just bitching on the interwebs. We're pretty lucky here in Perth to have really clean beaches for the most part. You find a bit of garbage left around but, in general, not that much. But some of the beaches that don't have swimmers generally are looking pretty crap these days.
Example, Woodies. Wind/watersports enthusiasts are really the only people who use this place and it looks like crap. I know a lot of the garbage washes up or is left by undesirables that tend to congregate there after dark. I know that kiters/windsurfers aren't just throwing bottles, plastic bags, etc on the beach. Be that as it may, as the people who use it, it's our responsibility to keep it clean. Nobody likes to clean up after others but nobody else is going to do it.
After my awesome 2 hour session at beach one yesterday, i walked to beach 3 to chat with some mates. On the way back, I was empty handed so I spent a few minutes picking up the array of trash that has collected on beach 2. I wasn't halfway back down the beach before I had more than I could carry. I know a lot of kiters walk this stretch every time the go for a kite. I'd like to ask that if you are walking back along the beach and you have a free hand, please pick even a couple pieces of garbage. Also, if you see people abusing the place, like campervans leaving bags of rubbish by the side of the road, don't hesitate to remind them that this is our place and we all have a responsibility to keep it clean.
One of the big problems is that there are no bins at Woodies. Unfortunetly, for the time being, we have to take all this crap out in our car boots. If anybody has any knowledge on which counsil is responsible for this area or a contact there I can petition to have some bins installed and emptied regularly, i'd appreciate it. For the time being though, you could subscribe to this idea, the Two Hands Project. The basic idea is that beach users commit half an hour every time they go down for a session/surf/walk with the dog, to picking up any rubbish they find. Some are taking photos of what they collect and posting on the facebook page. http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=529171848#!/pages/Two-Hands-Projectorg/111774942217552?v=info
Half an hour sounds like a lot when you are trying to squeeze in a session after work. It wouldn't even take that. If each kiter were to commit to picking up and packing out even one piece of rubbish every time they kite, it would be enough. I refuse to think that people who use the beach nearly every day, don't care about it. This is our place, whatever beach it is, let's take care fo it. I think this is a good opportunity to set a good example and show the kiting community in a good light.
I'm happy to help organize, maybe with WAKSA, a beach clean up. In the meantime though, it only takes a minute to pick it up on your way back to the car.
Good idea, best is to just do it yourself. Last year's pickup is below. I will wait to do it until the visitors are gone.....so much more effective.
get.google.com/albumarchive/pwa/100158763202094001468/WoodiesBay1
picasaweb.google.com/100158763202094001468/WoodiesBay2#
Perth is an amazingly clean looking city.
Shame there was rubbish bags laying on the side of road and in sand dunes at Woodys so I spend this morning picking up rubbish.
Please visitors clean up your sh** or the locals going to get really upset about this.
KEEP beaches clean in OZ!
the council need to do something at woodies its a joke , we need rubbish bins etc
hell lets ask for a a flash toilet and shower block in which you have to pay to get inside and use,
Good on you guys. A bit of initiative and community spirit is a beautiful thing.
I wonder if the more people are seen to be picking up rubbish, the more others will be willing to as well? The less rubbish there is, the more it will stick out if someone does litter.
Most people were raised with some sort of stigma about picking up rubbish, "Don't touch that, it's dirty!" or they had to do it as a punishment in school, and so there are negative connotations (As though other people's rubbish is somehow dirtier than what you just put in the bin).
However I reckon the more it simply becomes the done thing to pick up rubbish if you see it, the less others will litter too. Sure, there'll always be a$$holes who'll never learn but making it public may at least convert those whom it's possible to convert.
Good wishes. Keep the planet beautiful!!
Hi Mr ApatheticEnd,
Great minds think alike! http://www.cleanupaustraliaday.org.au/Woodmans+Point
Excellent post! I often pick up all sorts of rubbish around the place. Now, I dont want to steal your or anyones environmental thunder or jump on anyones Clean Up Australia Day turf, though I had been thinking about this for some time and could not find a clean up link on the cleanupaustraliaday.org site for Woodies - so I made one.
If anyone else does or knows of someone who usually organises a clean up day down at Woodies on Clean Up Australia Day then please let me know and they can continue the tradition - I will step aside and join forces. Otherwise follow the link and register.
I will PM you. Excellent idea.
Funny that, hubby and I took the kids and the dogs down there yesterday and it was pretty filthy. Seems everytime I go there's always rubbish and dog sh#t on the beaches, we generally try to pick up some but somebos just down right disgusting. Would imagine it would be under City of Cockburn wouldn't it. Let's hope it improves and toilets would be fantastic:)
http://www.kabc.wa.gov.au/programs/adopt-a-spot/index.html
I have run an adopt a spot program with my school and it creates a great sense of ownership of an area.
Possibly a local kite school could take that on. If you complete 4 clean ups in a year your group gets it's name on the honour roll (which always looks good).
there's also
www.kabc.wa.gov.au/programs/litter-prevention-grants/index.html
litter prevention grants up to 5000 for a beach. It can be used to upgrade the facilities.
keep australia beautiful is a great place for clean up resources, they will send you out all of the equipment and pick up the rubbish after.
I just emailed the council to ask why there are no bins
Awesome. WAKSA will be adding the details to the next newsletter in an effort to get volunteers for the Clean Up Aus Day event that WooshkA organized for the 6th of March. WAKSA have also asked me for a list of supplies we need and they will provide what they can.
Please email myself or WooshkA to volunteer. The more sets of hands helping, the sooner we can finish up and get out and kite.
http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/wa/8838444/wa-beaches-dirtiest-in-nation/
Just a reminder, we'll be cleaning up Woodies as arranged by Whooshka on clean up Australia Day, March 6th. We'll get some more details up a bit closer to the date but it would be great to see a good turnout.
WAKSA was kind enough to give this mention in their newsletter several weeks ago. I have not recieved a single email to express interest in lending a hand. Feel free to flick me an email or PM if you're keen to come pitch in for a couple hours. joshua_tompkins@hotmail.com
I feel your pain. Maybe make a facebook event? Seems that's a good way to get commitment and people can see others who join. Which encourges them.
I would be there, but stuck in EFL until 8th.
Two of us cleaned up 3 bays in 2 hours or so, wasn't really that bad. You don't need an army IMO...just do it.
Live just round the corner so I'll definately come down for a bit and pitch in.
Good chance to meet a few more kiting people too.
This event is less than a week away. If you'd like to come down and lend a hand for just a little while PM me so I know how many to expect. Stuff like gloves, water, and rubbish bags are coming out of my own pocket so I don't want to buy more than I need.
A good turnout will certainly shine a good light on our community. Hopefully, we'll get a bit of wind so we can have a session after. Thanks to those who have already volunteered. Also, Whooshka can you shoot me a PM or email?
Cheers
Josh
shame it's the same day as a festival. maybe i'll just pick up some rubbish there
Right, we're all go.
Time: 11am
Date: Sunday 6th March
Where: Meet at beach 2 car park at Woodies. I'll be in a white trayback ute.
Bring your gear. It looks like we'll get a session in after. Between myself and Gibbo we've got everything required. Gloves, rubbish bags, sunscree, ute for disposal, and water for everyone.
I've gotten 6 or 8 volunteers lined up so it should take anly an hour or 2.
Give me a shout if you are keen to help or have any questions.
Cheers
Josh
0448 888 094
See you all in a bit. Give me a shout if you aren't doing anything and want to come down. Do a little bit to help make it better, then go enjoy it when the wind fill in this afternoon.
very sorry to all concerned particularly Josh who organised this, for my no show
I have no excuse except that i am a dumb arse
Was convinced it was 2pm, dont know why when it clearly says 11, having just checked seabreeze again after packing the esky with water, beers and stuff
Feel terrible i am gonna go down now and see if i can find you to apologise personally, if i dont see you very sorry again
Hey Josh,
We were there but didn't realise who was who so helped out the diving club for a while and then loaded up the garbage bags we bought on the roadside on the way out.
Ended up going down to Safety Bay for a kite afterwards as the breeze was a bit to directly onshore on beach 1 for a complete noob!!
No dramas guys. We met up in the carpark and waited till about 11:30. There were several groups out today. Whooshka registered the event with CleanUp Australia Day website but the more the merrier. It was good to see people out there busting their ass in the heat, some with their kids, to make it a better place.
Four of us worked our way around and finished up in about 2 hours. Collected 6 or 7 big bags of rubbish. Mostly crap left by people drinking down there, and stuff that washed up like fishing gear. Weirdest find of the day was probably a toss up between a bra and half a couch semi submurged in the surf. one thing I was impressed with was finding only one piece of kite related rubbish. A one pump clip that I added to my spares box.
I really appreciate your help today guys. Trucking out that much rubbish has to make it better. Maybe worth doing more often. Like i said in the initial post, if everyone picked up just a couple things when they are walking back up the beach it would be much better.
Got in a pretty good session after too!
Cheers Josh & Co.,
It was a good morning at Woodies. And Outback driver, cheers for the beers. I was thinking later, we could have called the chopper over to pick up the couch! Add that to the list along with the flipper, tape measure, nappies hmmmm, hat, used det cord, and of course the black lacy bra. Nappies have no place at the beach, nor do bras (just kidding!).
See ya round.
WhooshKA
